Fighter jets for the Air Corps?

Ah here, lets go back 100 years!!

Maybe move with the times.

Like the rest of the country has been.

So Niall in the Journal has an article about the attendance of DF/DOD at the couple of trade shows this year, and flags options from Sweden and South Korea for fighters and a French option as too expensive…

So a variant of Gripen against a variant of the FA50 as the potential offers:

There is a lot of talk amongst security sources about the possibility of purchasing jet fighters to act as an indigenous air policing capability. 

It is understood that an internal report has been completed suggesting the possible acquisition of a small number of jets and that they would be based at Shannon Airport.

It is believed, from multiple sources, that there are concerns in the Irish Air Corps base in Baldonnel that the State may miss an opportunity to make a cost effective purchase if they delay. It is understood that two potential manufacturers, from Sweden and Korea, are the most likely option as other options like a French aircraft are too expensive. 

https://www.thejournal.ie/military-and-civil-servants-travel-to-major-arms-fair-to-examine-potential-defence-kit-purchases-6819119-Sep2025/

I think he means the opportunity to get an order in before, or at the start of a massive ramp up in arms puchases across Europe. Leaving it too late would see us waiting a long time as order books get backed up, some might argue that time has already passed.

Brazil is seeing a considerable increase in costs and delays for it's Gripens:

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is facing a silent crisis in its fighter jet modernisation programme. Constant delays in the FX-2 Programme, signed with Swedish manufacturer Saab in 2013, have already resulted in additional costs equivalent to the purchase of six more Gripen NG aircraft, even though Brazil will not receive them. The information was revealed during an official presentation at the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee (CRE) in the Federal Senate, according to the Aeroin portal.

The original contract provided for the delivery of 36 JAS-39E/F Gripen NG fighter jets by 2025, but after several amendments, the schedule was pushed back to 2032. This postponement resulted in a 12% increase in the total value of the initial agreement, according to documents presented by Air Force Lieutenant-Brigadier Walcyr Josué de Castilho Araújo, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

They were supposed to have them already. It took them 11 years to develop the manufacturing capability.

Even if Ireland put in an order tomorrow, they are unlikely to be delivered within a decade.

It seems weird that an F-35 is now cheaper than an F-16.

Yeah trying to get them airborne would be a nightmare, we’d be crazy to look at them. As for the helicopter, interesting that it says the tender is to start, I though G2G was meant to avoid the rendering process?

Worrying is the "small number" , getting 6 or a similar figure is about as useful as getting none. The minimum would be the squadron equivelent to what the Czechs or Hungarians got a few years ago, which I think was 12 +2 two seaters.

Unless they invest in a tanker, having 2 gripen pick up a bear in donegal is probably going to mean they have to peel away and RTB somehere west of Kerry.

FA 50 would be even worse as a token gesture. The sad thing about this is that its obvious to anyone with half a brain that its the tokenist of token gestures, and to think they think that they'll get away with it, and other nations will say well done, and pat them on the back is pathetic.

It will have to be a twin for maritime safety, non American engines, support European industry - so Typhoon or Rafale

Maybe I saw it here but the French can do some inventive finance arrangements ☺️

Oh ye of little faith Sparky! 😉

Maybe we'll get one Jet, so that in years to come RTÉ Security Correspondents can refer in their reports to 'the Air Corps jet from Shannon' in the same way that they used to refer to 'the Air Corps helicopter from Baldonnell' whenever there was heavy snow, and at a time when we actually had 10 bloody helicopters.

see mupper, you aren’t thinking like the department. It’s a perfect purchase, it will piss off those who don’t want defence spending, it will piss off those that do, it will piss off the nations who want us to do even the bare minimum, it will piss of Finance and will achieve feck all…

The department will be thrilled with themselves, might even give themselves a raise.

how is fighter jet going to put out fires do medical transport or bring minister to new york, how do they get this across to the public lol

What have you done with Jonny???

That would be the block 70 I think? Plenty of bang for your buck to be sure. As you pointed out.